Vision

Anti-VEGF medications are very effective in treating age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion. But there has long been concern that they may increase the risk of bleeding and other problems. French researchers recently assessed how real that risk is.

Glaucoma treatments can prevent vision loss and blindness, but many patients still experience problems like double vision (diplopia) and strabismus (misaligned eyes), which can interfere with their quality of life.

What if you've had cataract surgery and still need glasses or contact lenses? A laser treatment may someday make it possible for ophthalmologists to refocus intraocular lenses (IOL) that were implanted years before.

Many people who have cataracts aren't getting the treatment they need. Likely reasons range from the cost of surgery to access to treatment centers. But the lack of a family and social support system may also play a key role, findings published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggest.

For years, medicated eyedrops had been the mainstay for treating glaucoma, a condition caused when the pressure of fluid inside the eye becomes dangerously elevated. Now some experts believe that the laser procedure known as selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) may be a better first-choice treatment.

Injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors can slow neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But many people find that receiving injections in the eye is stressful. If you're anxious about the treatment, here's what you should do.

Some people notice small dark spots that look like freckles in the iris of the eye. These may be harmless iris "freckles," medically called iris ephelis, or they could be iris nevi, which are typically, but not always, benign. Another kind of eye "freckle" —found inside the eye—choroidal nevi—can be seen only during an eye exam. Here's what you should know about all three.

Microstents are a promising new option for managing elevated intraocular pressure in adults with glaucoma. But with so many microstents becoming available, ophthalmologists are still trying to assess their relative benefits and long-term effectiveness.

For people with glaucoma, regular monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP) is important for making sure that their treatment is effective. But testing involves going to the eye doctor, which can be a burden, especially for older patients. Can glaucoma patients safely and accurately measure their own IOP at home?

Following a Mediterranean-style diet—with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils such as olive oil, and only very modest portions of red meat and refined foods—has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. And there's growing evidence that it may also be linked to a reduced risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Researchers examined the medical data of more than 74,000 women ages 65 and older who had cataracts. For reasons not clear to the researchers, the women who had surgery to replace their clouded lenses were more likely to live longer than those who didn't have the simple procedure.

The most common test for vision loss from glaucoma is standard automated perimetry (SAP). A recent report has found that mild cognitive decline associated with aging can impair the ability of individuals to perform the test—and compromise the reliability of the results.